Researcher devises drug cocktail for coronavirus

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.cp24.com/news/researcher-...irus-1.1242955

Researcher devises drug cocktail for coronavirus
The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, April 18, 2013 5:19AM EDT

TORONTO -- When a new disease emerges, scientists and physicians hope something that's already in the medicine cabinet can be used to treat it.

A new study suggests for the novel coronavirus, that may be the case.

Scientists from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are reporting that a combination of two existing drugs may be useful in treating the new virus, which has emerged from countries in the Middle East.

The cocktail is made up of a generic antiviral drug called ribavirin and interferon alpha 2b, a synthetic version of a protein made by the human immune system.

The work is preliminary; the drug cocktail was tested in two types of monkey kidney cells, not in live animals or people.

But virologist Vincent Munster, one of the authors, says testing in macaque monkeys is already underway and a scientific paper spelling out the results should follow this one shortly.

These initial results are published in the journal Scientific Reports...

[Vibrant62]

Re: Researcher devises drug cocktail for coronavirus

A primary issue here is that ribivarin - whilst an effective anti-viral agent - is highly toxic. For this reason it was largely discounted as potential treatment for H5N1 human infections.

See http://www.drugs.com/pro/ribavirin.html

The primary clinical toxicity of Ribavirin is hemolytic anemia. The anemia associated with Ribavirin therapy may result in worsening of cardiac disease and lead to fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Patients with a history of significant or unstable cardiac disease should not be treated with Ribavirin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1), and Dosage and Administration (2.3)].

Significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to Ribavirin. In addition, Ribavirin has a multiple dose half-life of 12 days, and it may persist in non-plasma compartments for as long as 6 months. Therefore, Ribavirin, including Ribavirin tablets, is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of therapy in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking Ribavirin therapy. At least two reliable forms of effective contraception must be utilized during treatment and during the 6 month post treatment follow-up period

[tetano]

Re: Researcher devises drug cocktail for coronavirus

Scientists fight deadly new coronavirus

Scientists may have found a treatment for a deadly new coronavirus ? which causes severe, acute respiratory symptoms ? first diagnosed in a patient from Qatar in September.

The treatment, a combination of two already-approved antiviral drugs, has been tested so far only in cells in lab dishes, according to the study in Scientific Reports.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/18/scientists-develop-possible-treatment-for-new-sars-like-virus/2091443/